The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-06

beville came off last Friday in Trial JUS
tice Calhoun's office at Abbeville Court
House.
For reasons unknown to US, we were
denied access to the official records in the
case, and not knowing when the trial was
to come off, the matter was nearly con-
cluded before we were aware that the ex-
animation was going on. Because OF
these reasons we can make no report of
our own, but are dependent upon tne
kindness of our neighbor, the A6beUitte
MESSENGER, for the following notes of evil
dence as taken during The trial by the ed
itor Of that paper:
Preliminary Examination.
A. B. Wardlaw sworn
I am President of Matt onal Bank. L
had note purported to be signed by F.
Wideman, A. B. Kennedy and R. j. Rob-
inson. presented me for discount, on the
"a or rs February. Note in evidence.
Person presenting this note represented
himself to be the son of Mrs. j. G.
Williams, the payee named in this note.
7 did not discount the note but told him
it was irregular in form for bank dis
count, but told him with the names
signed to it I regarded it perfectly
good note and such as the bank would
like to handle as collateral, and said
I will see some of the Directors and if
it meets their approval, will discount
your mothers note of u thousand dol
lars with this note rs collateral, en-
dorsed by his mother. told him that
his mother must come up and sign
note for $1,000. He replied that his
mother was going to Augusta in few
days and asked If ] could not arrange
so that she would not have to come to
Abbeville. replied that in view of the
fact Of his mother being lady, if
she would 90 to Troy and sign the note
in presence of j. NJ. Dendy or George
C. Bradley, whom | knew very well, |
would discount the note. l made out
bank note for him. / have. to say
that this man calling himself NJ.
Franklin is the party who presented the
note to me and represented himself as
the son of Mrs. }. c. Williams. When
he came l was very much surprised 10
see him with note for such an amount
against these three gentlemen and asked
him about it. He replied, in substance.
that Capt. r. j. Robinson knew his
mother had a considerable amount Of
money which she had put by for build
ing a house and which she wouldn't
need for sixty days or more; that Mr..
A. b. Kennedy and Mr.. j. T. Wideman
needed good deal of money in settling
up the affairs Of J. +. Wideman & Co.
about that time, and that Capt. r. j.
Robinson said that as he was borrowing
the money for these men, he would
sign the note with them, and said that
the note in evidence was the one given
for the money. He also said that his
mother had 400 acres of land unencum-
bered. 1 drew up that note for $1,000
with instructions to have signed in
presence of Mr.. Bradley or Mr.. Dendy.
I would express the money. On the
evenings mail of the 1st OF March they
were returned to me. That afternoon
we discounted the $1,000 note and fixed
up the express package. A letter from
Mrs Williams ordered the money
to Augusta by express, and it was
so done. The same day I mailed
letter to Mrs. Williams noti-
flying her of the" shipment. This
letter was returned as not called for
On the 9th l received another letter re-
ouesting to have the money expressed
back to Troy, which had done through
Mr.. Hammond. I saw the defendant
next in the bank after he was arrested
and recognized him as the person who
presented the notes.
Crosse examined.
| first saw defendant in the bank. l
had been informed that he was the
party suspected before | saw him the
day of the arrest. His general ap-
pearance and popularity of voice was
f what made me recognize him as the
party who presented the notes. There
was no scar or other mark about him
by which I could identify him. A des-
cription given me in the mean time,
particularly of the hat he wore, cor
responded exactly. I remember that
he had very little beard and a small
moustache.
+. H. Wardlaw sworn:
| am assistant to Mr.. Barnwell in the
bank. l saw the $1,000 note before ;
the day it was to be discounted. saw
the party who presented it. He was
unknown to ME. I next saw him the
day he was arrested. ] did not know
the party was there before | saw him.
He came in with another gentleman.
have since learned that Mr.. Davis was
the gentleman who accompanied him.
As soon as he came I recognized him
as the party who had presented the
note. did not tell Mr.. Barnwell but
did tell father that recognized the man
as the party who had presented the
81, 300 note. The defendant here is the
man. When first saw him did not
know his name. I hadn't heard he was
there before l saw him.
j. f. Wldeman sworn:
Handed witness $1,000 note. That
is not my genuine signature to that note.
I did not sign this note with Mr.. Ken
nedy and Mr.. Robinson. Pretty good
imitation Of my, signature. l do not
know Mrs. Williams. think 1 have
seen this writing before. 1t reminds
me Of Mr.. Frankln,s writing, but would
not swear it was his. I am familiar, to
some extent, with Mr.. Franklin's hand
writing. There are some other parties
whose writing l know that write like
this.
Cross examined.
can't say what other persons writ
ing this looks like. | can't swear that
it is Mr.. Frankln's.
A. B. Kennedy sworn
The signature to that note is not mine.
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